LGCT Riyadh: Michael Pender and HHS Calais offer their second Grand Prix of the year
A few weeks ago, in Valkenswaard, Michael Pender and HHS Calais won the Grand Prix of the Dutch leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour. This Saturday evening, in Riyadh, the Irishman and his Cavalier Royale son struck again! However, this last Grand Prix of the circuit was certainly not simple. Of the thirty-five couples at the start, only four managed to cross the line without any penalty during the initial lap, many having left one, two or three bars on the ground. Thus found themselves to be decided: Harrie Smolders and Monaco NOP (Cassini II), Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana (Kashmir van Schuttershof), Michael Pender and HHS Calais, as well as Jur Vrieling and Long John Silver 3 (Lasino). While the Swedish duo was unfortunately penalized by four points, the other three couples repeated the clear round. If the track could not decide between them, the stopwatch did. And the fastest of the three was finally Michael Pender and HHS Calais, authors of a double clear in 35.78 seconds, almost one less than Harrie Smolders and Monaco NOP, second in 36.68 seconds. The second Dutch duo of this jump-off, Jur Vrieling and Long John Silver 3, thus ranks third.
In addition to this Grand Prix, Riyadh also hosted the final of the Longines Global Champions Tour circuit which crowned Ben Maher this year. This is the Briton’s third victory on this circuit, a real record. “It’s a bit surreal. The whole Global Tour has really taken the sport to the next level over the past few years. I participated in many stages and I am grateful to be involved. It was a great season with all the best horses and riders in the world,” said the 2022 winner.
To consult the complete results of this Grand Prix, Click here.
To consult the classification of the circuit at the end of this final, Click here.
Emilie Dupont (with press release)